In today’s contentious, divided U.S. Congress, we desperately need out-of-the-box thinking if we ever wish to move forward as a country. I have a plan that is comparable to my earlier idea on how to make Alaska election campaigns less expensive and shorter in duration. In that plan, candidates would only be required to publicize a single number: The amount of money they promised to send voters, if elected.
My new idea for Republicans and Democrats in Congress also requires use of a quantifying number for their negotiations on legislation: The number of people who would go hungry if some proposals and programs are put into effect, or if others aren’t. Some might assert this would be an extremely difficult calculation. But with artificial intelligence and quantum computers, it could be done.
Right-wing extremists who still cling to the “survival of the fittest” philosophy will remain blind to the fact that there are some members of our society who, through physical, mental, generational, educational and other disadvantages, will always need some form of government assistance. Or they just don’t care.
An “acceptable” hunger calculation during negotiations would at least bring home the impacts of Congressional action, or inaction. For some members of Congress, such as the MAGA-Republicans, that number probably doesn’t matter. But it might move the needle slightly on normal members of Congress who can still recall when responsible governance existed in our country.
— Frank Baker
Eagle River
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